“That isn’t a good idea,” I replied and threw out my arm for emphasis.
Unfortunately, the hand attached to my arm was stil carrying a martini and it sloshed al over the bricks paving the backyard and on Hank’s jacket.
“Shit! I’m sorry,” I said, turning to put the glass on a table and starting toward the door, using this as what I considered a golden opportunity to execute an escape plan. “I’l go and get a towel.”
Hank caught my arm and stopped me.
Escape plan thwarted.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
“I got vodka on your jacket.”
“It’l clean.”
I stared at him.
“It won’t clean, it’s suede. Dammit, it’s soaking through.
I’l buy you a new one.”
“You aren’t buyin’ me a new jacket.”
“I am, this’l be ruined,” I told him. “We have to get a towel.”
“You’re avoiding my question.”
“You’re avoiding the vodka stain!”
I was avoiding his question. I was avoiding it with everything I had.
He drew me closer to him.
“Let’s get back to dinner. Tomorrow night. I’l pick you up at six thirty. Where are you staying?”
I shook my head, “Uncle Tex and I’l be playing with the cats.”
It wasn’t good but it was the best I had.
He drew me closer.
“Is there a reason you don’t want to have dinner with me?” he asked.
Yes, there was a reason; there were mil ions of them.
None of which I was going to share, the biggest of which was Bil y.
“No,” I lied.
“Where are you staying?” Hank, obviously, could be stubborn too.
“Listen, Whisky, I’m here to see my uncle, then, I’m gone.”
He drew me even closer, pul ing me in front of him so that my br**sts nearly brushed his chest. He looked down at me and smiled.
My mind went blank and I stared.
It might sound stupid, but his smile was breathtaking. He had great teeth.